Melbourne to Adelaide

Two days per week (Tuesday and Saturday), you can catch The Overland from
Melbourne to Adelaide. Run by Great Southern Railway (GSR), this train departs
Melbourne Southern Cross station each morning at 8:05am, runs through the day
and arrives the same evening at Adelaide Keswick rail terminal at 5:53pm.

The Overland

Vline operate a co-ordinated train/bus service that links Melbourne to Adelaide in
daylight. A train departs Melbourne Southern Cross station early each morning for
Bendigo. Two hours later, when you arrive at Bendigo, change to the connecting
Vline Daylink bus to Adelaide. You will arrive in Adelaide late in the afternoon. This
service operates every day.

Swan Hill, Echuca and Bendigo to Melbourne line

Ballarat to Horsham, Nhill and Ouyen

Melbourne to Albury

Vline operates three trains each day from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Albury. The trains depart Melbourne in the morning, around midday and in the late
afternoon and arrives in Albury about three and a half hours later. You can also
board these trains at Broadmeadows station in Melbournes suburbs and at other
towns along the way.

Albury to Melbourne line

NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train runs twice each day from Melbourne
Southern Cross station to Albury (then on to Sydney). The journey to Albury takes a
little over three hours. The first train departs Melbourne early in the morning and
arrives Albury a little before noon. The night train departs Melbourne in the evening
and arrives in Albury late that same evening.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Melbourne to Bairnsdale

Vline operate a regular train service from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Bairnsdale. There are three trains each day - on Mondays to Saturdays departing
Melbourne at 7:45am, 12:25pm and 6:25pm, and on Sundays departing at 8:30am,
10:30am and 6:25pm. The journey takes about three and a half hours. You can also
board all Bairnsdale trains en-route at Melbourne Flinders Street station and at
Caulfield and Dandenong stations in the South-Eastern suburbs. The 10:30am
service on Sundays travels only as far as Sale, you will need to catch a connecting
bus from there to Bairnsdale.

Gippsland line

Melbourne to Ballarat

Vline operate a regular train service from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Ballarat. On weekdays there are about seventeen trains, whilst on weekends there
are twelve to fourteen trains each day. The journey takes a little over one and a half
hours. You can also board most Ballarat trains at Sunshine or Footscray stations in
Melbourne's Western suburbs. Some Ballarat trains run beyond Ballarat to
Maryborough, Wendouree or Ararat.

Ararat, Maryborough and Ballarat to Melbourne line

Melbourne to Bendigo

Vline operate a regular train service from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Bendigo. All trains destined for Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Elmore, Echuca or Swan Hill will
stop at Bendigo station. On weekdays there are nineteen trains, whilst on weekends
there are twelve to fifteen trains each day. The journey takes a little under two
hours. You can also board most Bendigo trains at Footscray and St Albans stations
in Melbourne's Western suburbs. Most trains also let you off at Kangaroo Flat in
Bendigo's outhern suburbs, and some run through to Elmore or Eaglehawk stations
in the Northern and Western suburbs of Bendigo.

Swan Hill, Echuca and Bendigo to Melbourne line

Melbourne to Brisbane

To travel to Brisbane, you will need to first catch a train to Sydney then change to
another train bound for Brisbane. NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train runs twice
each day from Melbourne Southern Cross station to Sydney Central station. If you
prefer travelling overnight, you can catch the Melbourne XPT that departs Melbourne
in the evening, then travels overnight before arriving at Sydney Central station early
the following morning. Then, you can spend a few hours in Sydney before catching
NSW Trainlink's Brisbane XPT from Sydney Central station. This train departs
Sydney Central in the afternoon, travels overnight then arrives at Brisbane Roma
Street station early the following morning. The whole journey from Melbourne to
Brisbane, with a few hours to sightsee in Sydney will take you about a day and a
half.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Brisbane XPTs

If you prefer travelling in daylight, you can travel to Brisbane by catching NSW
Trainlink's Melbourne XPT departure from Melbourne Southern Cross station that
departs early each morning. This train travels through the day and arrives at Sydney
Central station that same evening. You can then stay overnight in Sydney before
early the next morning catching NSW Trainlink's Casino XPT train from Sydney
Central station to Casino, then changing to a connecting bus, also operated by NSW
Trainlink. The bus takes you from Casino via the Gold Coast to Brisbane Roma
Street station, arriving there late that same evening. The whole journey from
Melbourne to Brisbane takes about a day and a half including an overnight stay in
Sydney.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Brisbane XPTs

Casino to Brisbane via Gold Coast

Melbourne to Cairns

You can catch the Melbourne XPT that departs Melbourne in the evening, then
travels overnight before arriving at Sydney Central station early the following
morning. Then, you can spend a few hours in Sydney before catching NSW
Trainlink's Brisbane XPT from Sydney Central station which departs in the afternoon,
travels overnight, then arrives at Brisbane Roma Street station early the following
morning. After spending the morning in Brisbane, you can board the the modern
Spirit of Queensland train departs Brisbane Roma Street Station for Cairns five days
per week in the mid afternoon (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday). It travels northwards through the evening, overnight and through the next
day before arriving at Cairns station late the following afternoon. This is arguably
Australias most modern and technologically advanced passenger train, however it
does not provide sleeping accommodation.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Brisbane XPTs

Queensland North Coast Railway

Melbourne to Canberra

You can travel from Melbourne to Canberra by train all the way, but unless you
have a religious aversion to buses, there are a few convenient co-ordinated train-bus
routes that are quicker and more convenient. NSW Trainlink offer a connecting bus
service from Cootamundra to Canberra. Catch NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train
that departs Melbourne Southern Cross station early each morning destined for
Sydney. At Cootamundra you change to a connecting Countrylink bus that follows
the railway to Yass then diverges down to Canberra Jolimont bus terminal arriving
late afternoon. The combined train and bus journey from Melbourne to Canberra
takes just a little over eight hours. It is possible to stay on board the train all the way
to Yass Junction station then change to this same bus there minimising the amount of
bus travel, however NSW Trainlink prefer that you change at Cootamundra. If you
prefer train travel, call NSW Trainlink and insist on the Yass Junction connection.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Queanbeyan to Cootamundra

Catch NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train that departs Melbourne Southern
Cross station early each morning destined for Sydney. At Yass Junction you change
to a connecting NSW Trainlink bus down to Canberra Jolimont bus terminal arriving
late afternoon. The combined train and bus journey from Melbourne to Canberra
takes just a little over eight hours. NSW Trainlink prefer that you change from train
to bus at Cootamundra, and their online booking system pushes this onto you,
however if you prefer train travel, call NSW Trainlink and insist on the Yass Junction
connection.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Queanbeyan to Cootamundra

VLine also offer a co-ordinated train/bus service from Melbourne to Canberra
called Canberra Link - although there is a greater proportion of the journey
necessary by bus. From Melbourne Southern Cross station, you catch Vline's
midday Albury train, and travel for a little over three hours before getting off at
Albury. Then you board a VLine bus that takes you to Canberra in the mid evening.
The whole journey is about eight and a half hours.

Albury to Melbourne line

Seymour to Albury

VLine also offer a co-ordinated train/bus service from Melbourne to Canberra via
Bairnsdale and Cooma. Called Capital Link, this service takes quite a different route
to the above options, is a little longer, contains more bus travel and operates only on
certain days of the week so you will need to check the timetable carefully. From
Melbourne Southern Cross station, catch the early morning VLine train to Bairnsdale.
At Bairnsdale, change to a Vline bus for the remainder of the journey to Canberra
where you will arrive in the evening. This journey will take you about ten and a half
hours, of which less than four hours is by train.

Gippsland line

Capital Link

It is possible to travel the whole way from Melbourne to Canberra by train. Catch
the NSW Trainlink Melbourne XPT train that departs Melbourne Southern Cross
station each morning destined for Sydney. After travelling through most of the day,
you get off at Goulburn station in the late afternoon. You then need to wait three to
four hours (time for an evening meal at a nearby restaurant) before catching the
NSW Trainlink Canberra Xplorer train from Goulburn to Canberra railway station
arriving late evening. The whole journey from Melbourne to Canberra takes about
fifteen and a half hours. You can also do this trip overnight by leaving Melbourne
late eveing, and changing in Goulburn in the wee small hours of the morning before
arriving in Canberra late morning. This will require a five or six hour wait at Goulburn
- from 4am to 9:30am.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Canberra Xplorer

Melbourne to Darwin

Two days per week, you can catch The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide.
Run by Great Southern Railway (GSR), this train departs Melbourne Southern Cross
station on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, runs through the day and arrives late
that afternoon at Adelaide Keswick rail terminal. After spending a night or two in
Adelaide, late each Sunday and Friday afternoon, you can then catch The Ghan,
also run by Great Southern Railway (GSR). The Ghan leaves Adelaide for Darwin
twice each week on Friday and Sunday evenings, travels overnight to Alice Springs
where it arrives around midday the next day. You have four hours in Alice Springs
before the train heads north again overnight to Katherine where another 3-4 hour
stop is scheduled on the Tuesday and Sunday morning. Finally, The Ghan departs
Katherine around noon and heads to Darwin arriving there in the afternoon of each
Tuesday and Sunday.

The Overland

The Ghan

Melbourne to Echuca

VLine operate one or two trains per day from Melbourne to Echuca. Mid each
afternoon and also early each Saturday and Sunday morning, a train departs
Melbourne Southern Cross station bound for Echuca via Bendigo. The journey takes
about three and a quarter hours. Note that Vline also provide a road bus service if
these trains are not timed conveniently.

Swan Hill, Echuca and Bendigo to Melbourne line

Melbourne to Geelong

VLine operate a regular train service from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Geelong. Many trains also run through to South Geelong station and some continue
through to Marshall or Waurn Ponds. Many also serve Lara, Corio, North Shore and
North Geelong stations en route. On most days there is a train every hour with more
in peak periods. The journey takes a little under one hour. You can also board most
Geelong bound trains at Footscray and Werribee stations in Melbourne's Western
suburbs, and some trains will also pick up at Newport station. You may also travel to
Geelong on any Vline Warrnambool train. Some Geelong trains offer first class as
well as economy class seats.

Warrnambool and Geelong to Melbourne line

Melbourne to Gold Coast

To travel to the Gold Coast, you will need to first catch a train to Sydney. NSW
Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train runs twice each day from Melbourne Southern Cross
station to Sydney Central station. If you prefer travelling overnight, you can catch
the Melbourne XPT that departs Melbourne in the evening, then travels overnight
before arriving at Sydney Central station early the following morning. Then, you can
spend a few hours in Sydney before catching NSW Trainlink's Brisbane XPT from
Sydney Central station. This train departs Sydney Central in the afternoon, travels
overnight then arrives at Brisbane Roma Street station early the following morning.
From Brisbane Roma Street station you can then catch a QR Citytrain to Nerang
station (there are two trains every hour) from where connecting QR buses will take
you the short distance to Surfers Paradise.
The whole journey from Melbourne to Brisbane, with a few hours to sightsee in
Sydney will take you about a day and a half.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Brisbane XPTs

Gold Coast and Brisbane Airport line

If you prefer travelling in daylight, you can travel to the Gold Coast by catching
NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT departure from Southern Cross station that departs
early each morning. This train travels through the day and arrives at Sydney Central
station that same evening. You can then stay overnight in Sydney before early the
next morning catching NSW Trainlink's Casino XPT train from Sydney Central station
to Casino, then changing to a connecting bus, also operated by NSW Trainlink. The
bus (which is destined for Brisbane) takes you from Casino to the Gold Coast arriving
there late that evening. The whole journey from Melbourne to the Gold Coast takes
about a day and a half including an overnight stay in Sydney.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Brisbane XPTs

Casino to Brisbane via Gold Coast

Melbourne to Hobart

The Spirit of Tasmania ferry departs every evening from Melbourne's Station Pier
for the ten hour sailing across Bass Strait to Devonport in northern Tasmania,
arriving there early the following morning. From Devonport, catch the connecting
Tigerline bus for the four hour journey to Hobart. This will get you into Hobart around
midday. The travel time from Melbourne to Hobart is about fourteen or fifteen hours.
At peak times, daytime sailings also operate that depart mid morning and arrive in
Devonport late in the afternoon. Bus connections to Hobart are provided to connect
with these sailings also.

Spirit of Tasmania

Hobart to Launceston and Devonport

Melbourne to Horsham

VLine operate up to four daily services between Melbourne and Horsham. You
start by catching a train from Southern Cross station, and travelleing to either
Ballarat or Ararat, then change to a connecting Vline bus for the remainder of your
journey. The whole trip takes around four and a half hours.

Ararat, Maryborough and Ballarat to Melbourne line

Ballarat to Horsham, Nhill and Ouyen

On Tuesday and Saturday mornings you can board Great Southern Railways The
Overland train at Melbourne Southern Cross station. This train travels via Horsham
on its way to Adelaide. The journey is not as speedy as the Vline service, but it is
very comfortable and can be less expensive too. The journey is by train all the way,
and you arrive at Horsham station early in the afternoon.

The Overland

Melbourne to Melbourne Airport (Avalon)

Sita Coaches operate an express bus service between Melbourne Southern Cross
station and Melbourne Avalon Airport. Buses operate to connect with all flight
arrivals and departures. The journey takes 50 to 60 minutes.

Melbourne (Avalon) Airport Bus

Melbourne to Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine)

Skybus operate frequent and speedy express bus service between Melbourne
Southern Cross station and Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Buses call at all
terminals, and operate every 10-15 minutes during the day, and hourly throughout
the night 24 hours per day. The journey takes 20 to 25 minutes.

Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport Bus

Melbourne to Mildura

Vline operate a co-ordinated train and bus service between Melbourne and
Mildura. Catch a morning or evening train from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Swan Hill, then change to a connecting bus from Swan Hill to Mildura. There are
also additional bus connections from trains arriving at Bendigo early afternoon
connecting with buses all the way through to Mildura. These services run every day,
and the end to end travel time is about 8 hours.

Swan Hill, Echuca and Bendigo to Melbourne line

Mildura to Swan Hill and Bendigo

Vline operate a direct overnight bus service from Melbourne to Mildura via Ballarat.
The bus departs Melbourne Southern Cross station late each night, travels through
the night and arrives in Mildura early the following morning.

Melbourne and Ballarat to Donald and Mildura

Melbourne to Mount Buller

In winter months, Vline operate bus services to the Victorian snowfield of Mount
Buller. Buses depart Melbourne Southern Cross station direct to Mansfield. Some
buses continue on up to Mount Buller. At other times it is necessary to change
buses at Mansfield to a connecting bus service from Mansfield to Mount Buller.

Melbourne to Mansfield & Mount Buller

Melbourne to Perth

Two days per week (Tuesday and Saturday), you can catch The Overland from
Melbourne to Adelaide. Run by Great Southern Railway (GSR), this train departs
Melbourne Southern Cross station each morning, runs through the day and arrives
the same evening at Adelaide Keswick rail terminal. The whole journey from
Melbourne to Adelaide takes around 10 hours. After a night and day of sighteeing in
Adelaide, you can board the Indian Pacific on Thursday or Sunday evening for the
two-night journey across the Nullarbor plain. The train arrives early Saturday or
Tuesday mornings at East Perth rail terminal. The train stops at a handful of
locations en route for brief periods to let passengers experience the outback. The
whole journey from Melbourne to Perth takes around three days including an
overnight stay and daytime sightseeing stopover in Adelaide.

The Overland

The Indian Pacific

Melbourne to Phillip Island

Express buses depart Melbourne Southern Cross terminal headed for Yarram. At
Koo Wee Rup, change buses for the connecting Vline bus service to Cowes (Phillip
Island). These buses are co-ordinated so that if the bus from Melbourne happens to
run late then connecting bus will wait. There are two to four of these servcies each
day. The whole end to end journey time is about 3 hours.

Yarram and Leongatha to Melbourne

Melbourne to Phillip Island (Cowes)

You can travel to Phillip Island by train and ferry. Catch a Frankston line train
from any downtown Melbourne railway station. They depart every 10 to 20 minutes.
Get off the train at Frankston, and change to a connecting train service from
Frankston to Stony Point. Stony Point trains depart right across the platform from
your arrival from Melbourne at Frankston. The Stony Point train runs between 6 and
10 times each day, so check the timetable for the times of connecting electric trains
from Melbourne. Then from Stony Point walk about 300 metres fromm the railway
station to the ferry wharf from where the Interisland Ferry departs for French Island
and Phillip Island. The ferry sails only 2 or 3 times per day, but it is timed to connect
with the train arrivals from Frankston. The entire journey from Melbourne to Phillip
Island takes about 3 hours.

Frankston line

Stony Point to Frankston line

French Island & Phillip Island ferry

Melbourne to Sale

Vline operate a regular train service from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Sale. There are three trains every day of the week. The journey takes about two
and three-quarter hours. You can also board all Sale trains en-route at Melbourne
Flinders Street station and at Caulfield and Dandenong stations in the South-Eastern
suburbs.

Gippsland line

Melbourne to Shepparton

Vline operate three trains daily from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Shepparton. One train departs Melbourne in the morning and another around
midday and another departs in the evening. The journey to Shepparton takes about
two and a quarter hours. You may also board Shepparton trains at Broadmeadows
station in Melbournes northern suburbs.

Seymour and Shepparton to Cobram and Griffith

Melbourne to Sydney

NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train runs twice each day from Melbourne
Southern Cross station to Sydney Central station. The journey takes about ten and
a half hours. There is a day train that departs Melbourne at 8:30am in the morning
and arrives Sydney at 7:55pm in the evening, and there is a night train that departs
Melbourne at 7:55pm in the evening and arrives in Sydney at 6:56am early the
following morning. You can also get off these trains at Campbelltown station in
Sydneys suburbs, or at one of many other stations along the way. Note than in
Summer months, the day train operates to an altered timetable so check online
timetables carefully.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Melbourne to Traralgon

Vline operate a regular train service from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Traralgon. On Weekdays there are about twelve trains each day, whilst on
weekends there are slightly fewer. The journey takes a little over two hours. Most
trains terminate at Traralgon, however trains bound for Sale and Bairnsdale will also
allow you to travel to Traralgon. You can also board all Traralgon trains en-route at
Melbourne Flinders Street station and at Caulfield and Dandenong stations in the
South-Eastern suburbs. All Traralgon trains also serve Warragul, Moe and Morwell
stations.

Gippsland line

Melbourne to Wagga Wagga

NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train runs twice each day from Melbourne
Southern Cross station to Wagga Wagga (then on to Sydney). The journey takes
about four and a quarter hours. There is a train that departs Melbourne early in the
morning and arrives Wagga Wagga just after noon, and there is a night train that
departs Melbourne in the evening and arrives in Wagga Wagga just after midnight.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Melbourne to Wangaratta

Vline operates three trains each day from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Wangaratta (then on to Albury). The trains depart Melbourne in the early morning,
around midday and then in the early evening then arrive Wangaratta two and three-
quarter hours later. You can also board these trains at Broadmeadows station in
Melbournes suburbs and at other towns along the way.

Albury to Melbourne line

NSW Trainlink's Melbourne XPT train runs twice each day from Melbourne
Southern Cross station to Wangaratta (then on to Sydney). The journey to
Wangaratta takes about two and a quarter hours. The first train departs Melbourne
early in the morning and arrives Wangaratta mid morning. The night train departs
Melbourne in the evening and arrives in Wangaratta later that same evening.

Melbourne - Albury - Griffith - Sydney

Melbourne to Warrnambool

Vline operate three trains daily from Melbourne Southern Cross station to
Warrnambool via Geelong. Trains depart Southern Cross station in the morning,
around midday and in the late afternoon for the three and a quarter hour journey to
Warrnambool.